She shook her head at that crazy thought. Her a seductress? Someone was probably laughing their ass off in heaven over that.
She paused at his front door and waffled on whether to use the key or knock.
The element of surprise was important, so the key it was.
She slid it into the lock, trying to make as little noise as possible. Then she eased the door open and peered inside.
So far so good.
When she got to the entrance to the living room, she froze, taking in the scene before her.
Jensen was sprawled on the couch, head back, either sound asleep or passed out. Judging by the bottles lying around, passed out was probably a good bet.
If it wasn’t such a familiar sight, Kylie might have mustered some outrage.
How pitiful they both were. Obviously miserable apart. It was a damn good thing one of them had sense. This crap was going to end right now.
“Jensen. Jensen!” she said louder. “Wake your ass up.”
She walked closer and then bent down to get in his face. “Wake up, Jensen!”
His eyelids fluttered sluggishly and then he seemed to realize who was standing over him in his living room.
“Dream,” he muttered. “Too much to drink. Fuck me.”
“I’m not a dream. More like a nightmare, but we’ll work on that,” Kylie said in amusement.
He blinked again and then rubbed an arm across his eyes. Then he frowned.
“What the fuck are you doing here?”
“Nice. Good to see you too, Jensen. How’s life been treating you? Wait, don’t answer that. I’d say it’s pretty obvious judging by all the empty liquor bottles.”
She leaned in closer so she was right over his face and she scowled big.
“So help me God, if you aren’t able to get it up because you’re too hungover, I’ll kill you.”
His mouth fell open and she caught a whiff of his breath. Okay, she could work with his. It wasn’t too strong, so she imagined it had been hours since he drank. Possibly even last night and then he’d slept it off.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Jensen demanded. “You aren’t supposed to be here. We’re over, Kylie.”
“Keep talking,” she said with a sneer. “You might even convince yourself before it’s over. But I know it’s a lie and you damn well know it too.”
“What do you want from me?” he asked in bewilderment.
She touched his cheek and stared him directly in the eye so he’d see how serious she was.
“Do you trust me, Jensen?”
“Of course,” he said gruffly. “It’s not you I don’t trust. It’s me. Goddamn it, Kylie, why are you making this so fucking hard? Was it so you could see how miserable I am? Well, take a good look. This is me without you.”
Her heart melted on the spot. The aching vulnerability in his voice undid her.
“Prove it,” she challenged.
“Prove what?”
He was sounding more irritated by the minute and she had to act fast before he threw her out of his house. Again.
“That you trust me,” she said softly.
“There’s nothing to prove. I trust you more than anyone else on earth.”
“Then come into the bedroom with me,” she said.
He closed his eyes. “I can’t do this, Kylie. Please don’t ask me to.”
“I’m asking you to trust me, Jensen. You said you did. Now show me. Please,” she added, the word sounding strangled.
“Fine. We go into the bedroom. Then will you leave me the fuck alone?”
“Are you so desperate to get rid of me, Jensen? Does your version of love mean forgetting someone you love, or supposedly love, so quickly?”
He surged up from the couch, his eyes glittering dangerously. Before? Such an action would have her terrified and dissolving into a panic attack. But now? She was so relieved to have at least a part of the old Jensen back and not this pathetic, grieving man who’d drunk himself into oblivion.
She’d done the same. If she hadn’t had her head stuck so far up her ass she could have had her epiphany a hell of a lot sooner and neither one of them would have had to be miserable all damn week.
“Don’t ever question my love for you,” he seethed. “It’s because I love you that I want you as far away from me as possible.”
Ignoring that particular outburst, and happy to have him on his feet so she didn’t have to try and get him up by herself, she took his hand and led him toward the bedroom.
When they got there, she turned, placing her hands on his chest and looking him in the eye.
“Remember what you said. About trust.”
“I remember,” Jensen said in a tight voice.
She nodded and then turned back toward the bed and began stripping out of her clothes. She whispered a short prayer that this worked out the way she hoped.